What do we think of the Sabres defence corps?

[dudacek]

There is not a lot of things to feel good about right now as a Sabres fan.

Could this be one?

• Power 6’6 226
• Kesselring 6’5 215
• Samuelsson 6’4 227
• Timmins 6’3 213
• Dahlin 6’3 204
• Byram 6’1 205

These guys range from pretty good to elite in their skating ability.

No one is small. No one is slow.

Five of them had enough skill to be picked in the top 32 picks of the NHL draft, 3 were the first defencemen taken, 1 is a top 4 defenceman in the league and the best to ever wear blue and gold.

All of them are young enough to say that their best hockey is ahead of them.

All of them are old enough to say that they’ve been around the block a few times.

They’ve got balance and flexibility in terms of where they slot, utility and skill sets.

They all have reasons to be highly motivated.

On paper, the pieces seem to fit.

It’s been so long since we’ve had a good defence corps I probably forget what one looks like.

But can this be it?

Can we actually have something good?

Or are Lindy Ruff and Marty Wilford going to drive these guys into Lake Erie?

[Taro T]

5 minutes ago, dudacek said:

There is not a lot of things to feel good about right now as a Sabres fan.

Could this be one?

• Power 6’6 226
• Kesselring 6’5 215
• Samuelsson 6’4 227
• Timmins 6’3 213
• Dahlin 6’3 204
• Byram 6’1 205

These guys range from pretty good to elite in their skating ability.

No one is small. No one is slow.

Five of them had enough skill to be picked in the top 32 picks of the NHL draft, 3 were the first defencemen taken, 1 is a top 4 defenceman in the league and the best to ever wear blue and gold.

All of them are young enough to say that their best hockey is ahead of them.

All of them are old enough to say that they’ve been around the block a few times.

They’ve got balance and flexibility in terms of where they slot, utility and skill sets.

They all have reasons to be highly motivated.

On paper, the pieces seem to fit.

It’s been so long since we’ve had a good defence corps I probably forget what one looks like.

But can this be it?

Can we actually have something good?

Or are Lindy Ruff and Marty Wilford going to drive these guys into Lake Erie?

The top 4 are good to excellent D-men (or would be if given a legit system to play in now that they are all at least close to their prime if not actually in it).  The 5 and 6 should be able to be good in a good system but both have been hit or miss in the past.

Would be happy with this D if somebody other than Wilford was directing them.

On paper it is better than they've had since Montour was a Sabre.  And it COULD be significantly better than that.  Expecting coaching will hold them back.

Wanted improved coaching, D, F's, and GTing.  Provided Byram isn't traded, this is the one unit that did actually substantially improve on paper.

[LGR4GM]

12 minutes ago, dudacek said:

There is not a lot of things to feel good about right now as a Sabres fan.

Could this be one?

• Power 6’6 226
• Kesselring 6’5 215
• Samuelsson 6’4 227
• Timmins 6’3 213
• Dahlin 6’3 204
• Byram 6’1 205

These guys range from pretty good to elite in their skating ability.

No one is small. No one is slow.

Five of them had enough skill to be picked in the top 32 picks of the NHL draft, 3 were the first defencemen taken, 1 is a top 4 defenceman in the league and the best to ever wear blue and gold.

All of them are young enough to say that their best hockey is ahead of them.

All of them are old enough to say that they’ve been around the block a few times.

They’ve got balance and flexibility in terms of where they slot, utility and skill sets.

They all have reasons to be highly motivated.

On paper, the pieces seem to fit.

It’s been so long since we’ve had a good defence corps I probably forget what one looks like.

But can this be it?

Can we actually have something good?

Or are Lindy Ruff and Marty Wilford going to drive these guys into Lake Erie?

We shall see but Wilford driving them into Lake Erie seems likely. 

[Happy Days]

3 of our defensemen were drafted as the top defensemen in their draft year.

Dahlin 1st in 2018

Byram 4th in 2019

Power 1st in 2021

There is the potential to have a dominant defensive core. if the development can get them there.

[Weave]

Man, last season I said I was more concerned with the forward group than the defense. They let me down. They played alot worse as a group than I expected.

This season, show me, Im from Missouri.

[JohnC]

30 minutes ago, dudacek said:

There is not a lot of things to feel good about right now as a Sabres fan.

Could this be one?

• Power 6’6 226
• Kesselring 6’5 215
• Samuelsson 6’4 227
• Timmins 6’3 213
• Dahlin 6’3 204
• Byram 6’1 205

These guys range from pretty good to elite in their skating ability.

No one is small. No one is slow.

Five of them had enough skill to be picked in the top 32 picks of the NHL draft, 3 were the first defencemen taken, 1 is a top 4 defenceman in the league and the best to ever wear blue and gold.

All of them are young enough to say that their best hockey is ahead of them.

All of them are old enough to say that they’ve been around the block a few times.

They’ve got balance and flexibility in terms of where they slot, utility and skill sets.

They all have reasons to be highly motivated.

On paper, the pieces seem to fit.

It’s been so long since we’ve had a good defence corps I probably forget what one looks like.

But can this be it?

Can we actually have something good?

Or are Lindy Ruff and Marty Wilford going to drive these guys into Lake Erie?

If we can get some consistent goaltending the picture looks much more promising. Possible flicker of hope? 

[Mr Peabody]

Power and Muel need to really ratchet up their games before I’m sold.  Really like the addition of Kesselring hope he rubs off on them. Don’t know a thing about Timmins.  

[HumanSlinky39]

There's potential. I think Kesselring will be a nice addition. Dahlin is elite. Power needs to show strides this year; I thought he took a pretty big step back last season. His injury was very unfortunate because he really needed to put in work this summer. Timmins should be serviceable. Byram is fine, good puck mover, meh defensively. I just assume Samuelsson is going to miss about 40 games and be underwhelming when he does play.

All in all, I think there's a decent chance they're better as a group than last year, but who the hell knows.

[JohnC]

The most intriguing player for me on the blueline is Samuelsson. It would be a terrific redemption story for a player who has received a lot of criticism, most of it deserved. He's not a banger and because of it he is targeted for scorn because he is a big fellow. He's best when he plays a simple game of getting the puck out of his zone. It would be such a bonus if he can come close to what originally expected of him which was probably too high. 

[CallawaySabres]

I can’t mentally get to the place where I actually think any part of this team will be good. I will believe it when I see it.

[Porous Five Hole]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

There is not a lot of things to feel good about right now as a Sabres fan.

Could this be one?

• Power 6’6 226
• Kesselring 6’5 215
• Samuelsson 6’4 227
• Timmins 6’3 213
• Dahlin 6’3 204
• Byram 6’1 205

These guys range from pretty good to elite in their skating ability.

No one is small. No one is slow.

Five of them had enough skill to be picked in the top 32 picks of the NHL draft, 3 were the first defencemen taken, 1 is a top 4 defenceman in the league and the best to ever wear blue and gold.

All of them are young enough to say that their best hockey is ahead of them.

All of them are old enough to say that they’ve been around the block a few times.

They’ve got balance and flexibility in terms of where they slot, utility and skill sets.

They all have reasons to be highly motivated.

On paper, the pieces seem to fit.

It’s been so long since we’ve had a good defence corps I probably forget what one looks like.

But can this be it?

Can we actually have something good?

Or are Lindy Ruff and Marty Wilford going to drive these guys into Lake Erie?

Dang you for giving me a reason to drink some hopium. I’m excited about Kess and equally excited to push Muel to the third pair. 
 

Dahlin/Byram

Power/Kess

Mix and match the rest for 14 min a night with protected zone starts.  
 

The blue line is a legit improvement.  

[GASabresIUFAN]

The blueline is Dahlin, a bunch of maybes, and some less then maybes.   There are still 6 rostered D (with Byram) that are mediocre or less defensively.  Neither Timmins or Kesselring are true shutdown D.  Both played about 17 1/2 minutes per game last season and started their shifts 55% of the time in the O Zone.  Neither is very physical despite their size and Kesselring doesn't kill penalties.  Timmins, to his credit, started played the PK this past season for the first time in his career.  

Byram, Samuelsson and Power still stink defensively and with Wilford as coach I'm not expecting any improvement.  In fact, both Samuelsson and Power have regressed since Wilford became the coach.  

This D group, while offensively talented, big and better balanced (R vs L), is less physical than last year and still a black hole defensively.  I don't expect any real improvement in goals against unless the goalies play out of their minds.  

Sorry, but the genius Kevyn Adams has sold everyone that Kesselring and Timmins are defensive improvements over the replaced Joki and Clifton. If they are it's nominal.  

[Flashsabre]

[Thorny]

Good